Fire-alarm system.



F. GOTTSCHALK.

FIRE ALARM SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 17. I914.

1,155,722. Patented 0ct. 5,1915.

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FELIX GOTTSCHALK, OF STIRLING, NEW JERSEY.

FIRE-ALARM SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 19115.

Original application filed September 19, 1914, Serial No. 862,482. Divided and this application filed November 17, 1914. Serial No. 872,540.

To all whom it may concern:

- and has for its object the utilization of an ordinary telephone instrument and its associated line and central ofiice equipment for the transmission of a characteristic alarm system by the automatic release of the telephone receiver hook by a suitable device,

said device being released to operate by' means of a fusible link or thermostatic dewas.

A further object is the elimination of any electrical connections to the telephone instrument or its circuit, the sending of a characteristic fire signal being accomplished, entirely by the mechanical tapping against the telephone instrument as hereinafter described.

In my pending application 862,482 of which this is a division, I disclose and claim a receiver hook held in its normal or restrained position by a member forming part of an actuating device, said actuating device being controlled by a fusible link and adapted to, raise and lower the hook, thereby producing a -characteristic signal in case the telephone line is of the usual common battery type. It is obvious that if the telephone should be of the magneto or local battery type that the raising and lowering of the hook would not produce a characteristic signal. This application therefore covers a device particularly suited to producing an audible signal over a local battery telephone, whereby upon the operator listening in or where all of the lines into an exchange are connected together at night for fire signal purposes, that the audible characteristic fire signal will be heard.

The accompanying drawing shows a complete apparatus adapted to give a characteristic signal in case of fire.

For the sake of illustration, a desk tele-' that the actuating mechanism may be clamped on a wall set or in fact on any type of telephone instrument equipped with a receiver hook or mechanism.

1 denotes the frame work of thetelephone instrument; 2, the usual receiver hook in its normal or restrained position. Attached to the hook switch in any suitable manner is theclamp 3 adapted to receive one end of a fusible link 4 adapted to melt at an abnormal temperature-say 150 degrees Fah. The lower end of the link is clamped to the member 5 of a suitable clock work mechan sm contained in the case 6. This mechanism being wound by the key 7. This clock work also operates a tapper 8 adapted to strike against the casing of the telephone instrument.

In operation the clock work mechanism is wound by means of the key 7 and the apparatus is arranged as shown in the figure. Uponthe link 4 melting, hook switch 2 is released and rises in the usual manner thereby closing the contacts in the telephone circuit. At the same time, member 5 is released, thereby permitting the 'clock work to start. This actuates tapper 8 and the vibrations of same are transmitted to the casing of the telephone instrument and to the transmitter of same and over the line. It is any other type of switching obvious that the tapping of 8'oan be made well-known to those versed in the art, so as to repeat the Morse character F, or to spell in Morse characters fire or to give any other desired signal, the tapper 8 being operated similar to a telegraph key so that a characteristic signal is transmitted over the line, thereby affecting the head receiver of the exchange operator in a distinctive manner.

It will be seen that my invention consists of utilizing a standard telephone instrument, line and central office apparatus for the purpose of transmitting a distinctive fire signal without complicating the telephone equipment by the addition of electrically operated devices for sending in the alarm and that my device is purely mechanical and does not affect the transmission of the telephone line in any manner and that by disconnecting the link 4:, the instrument may be used as an ordinary telephone.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim 1. In an alarm system of the character described, a telephone instrument having switching mechanism, means comprising a member adapted to melt in the presence of abnormal heat secured to said switching mechanism for holding said switching mechanism in its normal position, and means released by the melting of said. member to produce a transmittable vibration to said telephone.

2. In an alarm. system of the character described, the combination with a circuit leading from a premises to be protected, to a telephone exchange, of a telephone instru ment having switching mechanism, a member adapted to melt in the presence of abnormal heat secured to said switching mechanism so as to release the 'same when melted, and means released by the melting of said member for producing a characteristic audible transmittable signal to said exchange, whereby the nature of the call is indicated.

3. In an alarm system of the character described, a telephone instrument having switching mechanism, mechanical releasing means for said switching mechanism and a mechanical connection between said switching mechanism and releasing means, comprising a fusible link adapted to melt in the presence of abnormalheat.

4. In an alarm system of the character described, a telephone instrument having switching mechanism, spring operated signaling means carried by said telephone in strument, and a mechanical connection between said switching mechanism and said signaling means including a fusible link adapted to melt in the presence of abnormal heat.

5. In an alarm system of the character described, a telephone instrument having switching mechanism, a mechanical device arranged to produce sound signals in proximity to said telephone instrument and a fusible link connecting said switching mechanism and said signaling device, said link holding said switching mechanism and signaling device in their normal non-operative positions.

6. In an alarm system of the character described, a telephone instrument having a switch hook, mechanically operated signal producing means adjacent said telephone instrument, and means connecting said signal means with said switch hook, said means including a fusible link adapted to melt in the presence of abnormal heat.

7. An attachment for telephone instruments, comprising in combination a spring actuated signal transmitting device adapted to be secured to the telephone instrument,

and means adapted to be secured to the switch hook of said telephone and to said signal transmitting device for holding said hook and said signal transmitting device in their non-operative positions, said means comprising a member adapted to melt in the presence of abnormal heat.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FELIX GOTTSCHALK.

Witnesses CHAS. LUBRECHT W H. LUBRECHT. 

